We will break away from our series about the possible defenses for Word of Faith Fellowship (WOFF), to consider excerpts from the book, Seductive Poison by Deborah Layton (copyright 1998 – Anchor Books, ISBN 0-385-48984-6)  The author gives a fascinating account of the her seven year involvement and escape from the Peoples Temple. The Peoples Temple was run by Jim Jones. He led church members on a journey from Indiana to California to Guyana, South America. They built a “utopian society” called Jonestown. On November 18, 1978, over 900 people died in Jonestown, almost a third of them were children. Deborah Layton escaped a few months before the tragedy and tried to convince others that circumstances in Jonestown were grave. Some listened and believed her.  

   In future posts, I will quote parts of this book in laying out similarities in the practices of Peoples Temple and WOFF.  In previous posts, I have quoted Deborah Layton from a PBS documentary produced in 2007 called “Jonestown: The Life and Death of Peoples Temple”. She made it clear that no one actually joins a “cult”. People join groups that they think will help them, not hurt them. As I look back over my time at WOFF and the net effects from that experience, I see I was completely unaware that my involvement in that group would affect my life, as it has. What started out as an apparent beneficial membership in a church in Greenville, SC has evolved into a bitter/sweet experience affecting more than just my life. As Deborah Layton explains, “If I, as a young woman had had someone explain to me what cults are and how indoctrination works, my story might not have been the same.” (page 299)

     Layton lays out how a person could become involved in a “cult”, as well as the warning signs from Peoples Temple. These keys are found in the Epilogue of “Seductive Poison”:

… “People do not knowingly join “cults” that will ultimately destroy and kill them. People join self-help groups, churches, political movements, college campus dinner socials, and the like, in an effort to be a part of something larger than themselves. It is mostly the innocent and naive who find themselves entrapped. In their openhearted endeavor to find meaning in their lives, they walk blindly into the promise of ultimate answers and a higher purpose.  It is usually only gradually that a group turns into or reveals itself as a cult, becomes malignant, but by then it is often too late.”

    She continues, “When your own thoughts are forbidden, when your questions are not allowed and our doubts are punished, when contacts with friendships outside of the organization are censored, we are being abused for the ends never justify the means. When our heart aches knowing we have made friendships and secret attachments that will be forever forbidden if we leave, we are in danger. When we consider staying in a group because we cannot bear the loss, disappointment and sorrow our leaving will cause for ourselves and those we have come to love, we are in a cult…  If there is any lesson to be learned it is that an ideal can never be brought about by fear, abuse, and the threat of retribution. When family and friends are used as a weapon in order to force us to stay in an organization, something has gone terribly wrong.”(page 299, emphasis added)

     I read this and it took my breath. Deborah Layton has laid out a list of some of the main characteristics of a mind control cult. She has never visited WOFF, as far as I know. One WOFF survivor, I know of has spoken to her, several years ago, but AFTER she wrote this book. These words struck a note in me because they describe life at WOFF. This description is not just what happens now, at WOFF, it has been happening – for YEARS! That is what is so frightening. Though the end of Peoples Temple was sudden, dreadful and violently destructive; the results from WOFF are not much less enduring. Yes, the members have not been physically murdered, but their emotions are maimed and their relationships with family and friends outside AND INSIDE are forever perverted and destroyed, as long as they remain a member! The intense loyalty required by Jane Whaley is akin to the suicide bomber allegiance we see in other extreme groups. WOFF members are taught through teachings and examples, that no other relationships except with Jane Whaley and each other are important, in order to have “holy righteous living”. Laying your family relationships on the altar of God for His direction (through Jane) was mentioned several times. If you showed emotion for your family over the Word of God (through Jane) then you had “perversion” working in you!

     How many times the phrase was preached, “We need each other.” This was a rallying cry for members to order their lives, relationships and their hearts to accept who could really help them “fulfill their call…”-  Jane Whaley and those who could help you understand Jane: leadership. This intense faithfulness to Jane Whaley is what befuddles and bewilders those who are on the outside looking in. Jane Whaley and the fear that accompanies her message, moves into places in WOFF members’ hearts that are reserved for only holy fervor and true God- fearing allegiance. Fear of Jane pushes into places in member’s hearts where the Love of God should be, thus a WOFF member has no trouble treating former members or those outside the church, as they do. Former members and those who “attack” are considered a danger to the place in a WOFF member’s heart that has been reserved for Jane; their hearts- her throne. Most times, WOFF members are not even aware of the stronghold that the fear of Jane Whaley has on them. It is viewed as normal or even required.   

    The description of life inside People Temple is at times very raw and crude. Jim Jones was a very pompous and selfish individual regardless of the letter left by Annie Moore, prepared late in the afternoon, as she was apparently the last one to die that fateful day in November of 1978. “I want you who read this to know Jim was the most honest, loving, caring, concerned person who I ever met and knew…. His love for humans was insurmountable…” (page 301)  The severe disconnect from reality reflected in these statements surprises me in some ways and in others – it does not. I have witnessed the same inordinate statements of praise, worship and adulation for Jane Whaley flow freely from the mouths of several WOFF members over the years. How does one account for such worship of these “leaders”? In my opinion, Jim Jones was enthroned in the hearts of his followers, much the same way Jane Whaley is enthroned in the hearts of many of hers.

    There are no regrets for me concerning the comparison of Jim Jones and Jane Whaley. If the similarities were not so obvious, my posts would not be so easy to write. I am just noting what I read about Jim Jones, Peoples Temple and their practices; then comparing that with what I know from my 16 years experience with Jane Whaley and life at WOFF. My opinions may anger some and that in itself is regretful.  

    Please, consume the information on this site responsibly. The author is not a licensed mental health professional and encourages those that need professional help to seek it. The intent of the material is to inform and be a resource. Be sure to tell every member that you know at WOFF about this blog. There are readers at WOFF. Comments are invited from all readers, including present or former members. Polls are not scientific and no private information is gathered.

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      (Please, take time to read the Terms of Use for this personal blog. As mentioned, the information about WOFF is from my memories and recollections as perfect as that may be or not be. ) Scripture references are Amplified Version unless otherwise noted. (Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation ) This is post number 147.